Device and method for producing freely formed products

Abstract

A device for producing freely formed products through a buildup of layers of powder-form material that is solidified according to specification, comprises a (relatively) lowerable table on the one hand, and a powder feed above the table, a distribution device that spreads the powder in a predetermined thickness over the table, and an energy source that solidifies the powder of each layer on the other hand, that are horizontally movable with respect to each other. In particular, the horizontal movement of the table consists in a rotational movement around an vertical axis, which movement is combined with the descending movement into a spiral movement having a pitch corresponding to the layer thickness, the powder feed, the distribution device, and the energy source being arranged radially around the axis and being continuously active.

1 . Device for producing freely formed products through a buildup of layers of powder-form material that is solidified according to specification, comprising a table ( 1 ;  21 ) that can be lowered in a relative manner, a powder feed ( 7 ;  27 ) above the table, a distribution device ( 8 ;  28 ) that spreads the powder in a predetermined layer thickness over the table, and an energy source ( 10 ;  30 ) that partially solidifies the powder of each layer, characterized in that the table ( 1 ;  21 ) on the one hand, and the powder feed ( 7 ;  27 ), the distribution device ( 8 ;  28 ) as well as the energy source ( 10 ;  30 ) on the other hand, are horizontally movable relative to each other.  
     
     
         2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the horizontal movement of the table ( 1 ) consists in a rotational movement around a vertical axis ( 2 ) and the powder feed ( 7 ), the distribution device ( 8 ) and the energy source ( 10 ) are arranged radially around the axis ( 2 ).  
     
     
         3 . Device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the descending movement and the rotational movement are combined into a spiral movement ( 4 ) having a pitch ( 5 ) corresponding to the layer thickness, and the powder feed ( 7 ), the distribution device ( 8 ) as well as the energy source ( 10 ) are continuously active.  
     
     
         4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least two tables ( 21 ) are arranged next to each other, and the powder feed ( 27 ), the distribution device ( 28 ) as well as the energy source ( 30 ) are movable in sequence over the tables.  
     
     
         5 . Method for producing freely formed products from powder-form material, in which method the powder is applied to a substrate in vertically-sequential layers, is uniformly distributed, and partially solidified according to specification, characterized in that the powder is applied in a continuous layer around the center of a circle, is distributed, and is partially solidified.